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Air New Zealand has commenced its first seasonal service between Adelaide and Christchurch.
Flight NZ261 landed in Adelaide at 9:30pm on Tuesday aboard the A320neo ZK-NHB, taking off again for Christchurch shortly after 7:15am on Wednesday. Flights will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays until 27 March 2026, adding around 15,000 seats on the route.
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Christchurch and Adelaide have been sister cities for more than 50 years, and Adelaide Airport’s managing director, Brenton Cox, said the route is another step towards Adelaide having its highest-ever number of international services by the end of the year.
“We’re proud to celebrate the launch of Adelaide’s first direct flight to Christchurch – a milestone that responds to strong demand between our sister cities,” Cox said.
“Nearly 50,000 people travel between Adelaide and the South Island each year, primarily for holidays or to visit family.
“This new non-stop service offers a seamless gateway to world-class destinations on both sides of the Tasman, making travel more convenient and appealing for South Australians and New Zealanders alike.”
New Zealand travel contributes around $82 million per year to South Australia’s economy, and South Australia’s Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison has welcomed the first non-stop flights between Adelaide and the South Island.
“More direct flights into Adelaide from New Zealand – currently our state’s fourth largest tourism market – means more potential visitors coming to experience all our state has to offer,” she said.
“The direct Air New Zealand service from Christchurch is the first in a series of exciting arrivals of new routes and new airlines through to the end of the year – strengthening the world’s connection to South Australia and seeing more international airlines servicing Adelaide than ever before.”
The only other non-stop connection from Adelaide to New Zealand is currently an Air New Zealand service to Auckland, which will increase to six flights per week in November.
It will be joined at the end of this month by a seasonal Qantas service to Auckland, the first time Qantas has flown international “red-tail” services from Adelaide since 2013. The Flying Kangaroo will operate four 737-800 flights per week from 31 October 2025 to 3 May 2026.
